Violin.



J. MARTIN.

VIOLIN.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 190a.

- Patented May 17, 1910.

ANDREW n GRAHAM coswow uwoommzns wAsmnown. 0,0

we mm JOHN A. MARTIN, OF CENTERVILLE, IOWA.

VIOLIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application fi1ed November 4, 1908.

Patented May 17, 1910.

Serial No. 461,021.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Centerville, in the county of Appanoose and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Violins, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to violins, and it con sists in the construction and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a front view of my improved violin; Fig. 2 is a view of the same on an enlarged scale with the greater portion of the back piece broken away; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line w00 Fig. 2; Fi 4: is a cross sectional View of the form ofbass bar taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2; and Figs. 5 and 6 are modified forms of bass bars.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates the preferred form of my invention, 1 designates the sounding board of a violin, which is provided on the under side of the sounding board with a bass bar (2). The bass bar, as shown, is preferably an integral part of the sounding board, and is left thereon when the same is being carved, and hence the fibers and grain of the bass bar run in the same direction as those of the sounding board. The bass bar is so located that the G string (4) of the instrument lies directly over its center, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, said bass bar being thickest at a point 2, intermediate its ends, said thickness decreasing gradually to a point or edge at each end. The point (2) of the bass bar is located directly beneath the bridge (3), and it will be noted that a eater portion of the bar is above the bridge than below it. It will also be noted that the bass bar may be formed in a variety of shapes, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, and designated by the numerals (2), (2 and (2 but the principle is the same in all forms, and that is, that it Will be so located on the under side of the sounding board that the G string (4) will lie directly over its center. By the use and arrangement of a bass bar of this type, the tones of the violin will be greatly improved and the rattling and rasping sound, which is apparent in all instruments, will be effectually obviated.

The box of my violin, it will be noted, is formed with but two corners (5) and (6), instead of four. The corners (5) and (6) are located back of the bridge, and this construction will be found to greatly improve the tone of the instrument.

In my violin I use but three strips or pieces to form the band that connects the sounding board (1) and the back (7) of the instrument together. From the corner (5) around the end of the instrument to the opposite corner (6) is one continuous end piece or strip (8). From the corner (5) to the neck (9) is a side piece or strip (10), and from the corner (6) to the neck is another side piece (11). It will be noted that the side pieces (10) and (11) at their upper ends, are formed with short depending portions (12) and (13), respectively, for attachment to the sides of the neck (9).

The sound holes or openings (14) and (15) are located from one-half to nine-sixteenths of an inch forward of where they are located in other instruments. In my instrument, it will be noted, that the bridge is contiguous the lower curved portions of the sound holes.

What I claim is A violin of the character described comprising a sounding board having a longitudinal bass bar integral with its underside, said bar being thickest at a point intermediate its ends, said thickness decreasing gradually to a point or edge at each end, said thickest portion being located below one end of the bridge of the instrument, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. MARTIN.

Witnesses:

ALBERT Roo'r, JOHN J. TIBBETS. 

